Tape dispensing machine



4 Sheets-#SheetI l L. SIM

TAPE DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Deo. 16, 1940 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1941.

Oct. 28, 1941. L. SIM 2,260,489

TAPE msPENsING MACHINE Filed Dec.v 16, 1940 4 sneaks-sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS Oct. 28, 1941. 51M

TAPE DISPENSING MACHINE Film ned. 1e, 1940 4 sheets-.sheet s lNyEN-roR ATTOR N EYS Oct. 28, 1941. L 51M TAPE DISPENSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 16, 1940 ATTORNEYS from the roll.

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE Gummed tape having a live adhesive, i, e., M

adhesive which need not be wetted prior to application, embodies many advantages over tapes having an adhesive which mus-t be wetted for adhesive softening purposes. Tapes having live Y adhesive, known generally in the trade as Cellophane tape, cellulosic tape, Scotch binding tape, etc., are highly eicient in their adhesive properties, but considerable difficulty has heretofore been experiencedin handling the tape, particularly in unwinding and cutting pieces of desired length from the roll.

Such tapes are wound in roll formation for distribution to the trade and retail sale, and the convolutions of the roll are adhesively secured one to the other, `with the adhesive so arranged as to lie on the side of the unwound length facing the roll. Tapes of this character are difficult to handle from the 'roll in that the adhesive surface becomes stuck together in the event of overlapping or folding, andthe tape is also diflicult to separate when so stuck together because of the highly sticky natureof the adhesive.

An object of my invention `is to -provide 'am4 tape unwinding and severing device incorporating novel means for pulling a predetermined length of tape from the roll, and inr which novel means are also provided for adjusting the un- Winding means to pull different lengths of tape The severing means is actuated through the medium of an operating connection with the tape` pulling mechanism and, is so arranged as to sever the tape after it has been pulled for length, with the unwinding means arranged to support the tape cut from the roll in a readily accessible position.

More specifically, the unwinding mechanism comprises two arms arranged for adhesive connection with the tape'asit is pulled from the roll, together with means for rotating the arms as a unit through one-half revolution, ywith the severing means located to -cut the tape intermediateA the arms after each length has been pulled from the roll, so that the tape portion severed from the roll will adhere to one arm and the tape end attached to the roll will adhere to the other arm for exerting ran unwinding pull on the tape when the arms are again rotated.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view with certain parts broken away for the sake'of clearness; 1

Figure 2 is aV top plan view with the cover removed; l y

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is'a sectional view along the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5-is a View taken along the line 5 5 of Figure;

Figure 6 is a perspective view tape pulling arms; and

Figure '7 is a detail view of a supporting plate for' the two vtape pulling arms.

In' theembodiment selected to illustrate the invention, the tape pulling arms I0 are mounted of one of the `on a shaft I 2 rotatably journaled in one side Wall I4gand a partition I6 :of the housing I8. The other side wall 28 isI provided with an opening 22 closed by a plate 24 detachably secured to the wall by screws 26. Upon the shaft I2 is secured a plate 28 having a hub 30 bored to receive the lshaft 'and Xedly secured thereto by a set screw 32. Fig. 3 illustrates the plate 28 as vbeing providedwith right-angular flanges 3A whichserve'as guides for racks 36 extending at right angles from the tape pulling arms I U, see also Fig. 5.

Racks 36 face each other and are in mesh with a pinion 38 keyed to a sleeve 40 mounted loosely on the shaft I2. Fig. 3 illustrates the -sleeve 48 as extending loosely through an opening-42 in the wall I4 for connection with a knob 44 fixed to the sleeve by a'set screw 46. A second plate 48 is positioned against the racks 36 opposite the plate 28, with the flanges 50 of the former partly overlapping the outer faces .of the flanges 34. Plate 48 is provided with an opening to receive the sleeve 40, and a spacer 52 is positioned between the plate and the inner face of the wall I4. Thus vthe flanges 34 on rthe plate 28 hold the racks 36 in meshing engagement with the pinion 38, and the plate and the other plate 48 restrain the racks from relative movement longitudinally of .the pinion. Accordingly, rotation of the shaft I2 imparts rotary motion to the tape pulling arms I0.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the two arms I8 parallel the shaft I2 and are located 180 apart. The arms are located yin transverse alignment with a trough 54 adapted to receive a tape roll 56, see Figs. 1 and 4, and the unwound length .58 of the tape extends underneath a roller and is then connected with one of the arms I0. Roller 60 is mounted :on a shaft 62 supported at the lower ends of arms 64 having an interconnecting reach 66 secured to the cover 68 pivotally connected at I0 with -the housing I 8. In Fig. 4, each arm includes flanges 12 and I4 spring is ben-t about a grooved wheel |28 -mountito which the tape is adhesively secured for unwinding purposes. The tape is pressed firmly against the face 12 of the nearestarm I0 and the cover 68 is closed to bring the roller 60 to the position of Fig. 4. Accordingly, rotation of the arms I in the direction of the arrow 'i6 exerts a pull on the tape and unwinds it from the roll 56. Trough 54 is provided with a roller 18 against which the tape roll 56 bears as the tape is unwound therefrom; One-half revolution'is impartedto the shaft l2 in the 'direction of .the arrow 16 for each length of tape pulled fromV the roll. Fig. 4 illustrates such a tape'lengtlfnv at 80, which length has an end portion 82 de;

pending from the arm |0 farthest fromthe tape roll. The tape run`58 is pressed firmlyagainst`` the fianges 14 of the arms i0 as the arms r areh y rotated.

f A pressure plate 84 has an end pivotally mounte-1A to, the leg 64, a` U-shaped spring 88 convoluted about the "shaft 86 and hooked at 90 to the leg 64 urges'the. plate 84 vdownwardly on the adjacent arm |`0 so vas `to insure sufficient pressure on the tape to' reffect a good adhesive connection with the arm.` PressureV is applied on the tape throughout the full widths ofthe successive lfaces' 12 and 1 4 as the Y arms are rotated for tape `pulling purposes. With the tape positioned on the arms" |-0 in accordance with Fig. Ll, the tape extendsacross a station-` lary blade 92 and is cut as the movablev blade 94 is pivoted downwardlyfacross thetapeand in partly overlapping relation with the stationary blade, asin the nature of a soissors`. Fig. l illustrates lthe n ormal .positions of the arms l0 after each tape pulling turn.

eans for rotating the yshaft l2 comprises a crank 96 secured toa shaft 98 by a setV screw |00? Shaft 98 is provded'with an axialV bore |02 for loose reception of one end of the shaft I2.

lies adjacent one face ofthe partition-|6, and

ed on a shaft 86 secured s. flange lua is secured to the shaft L2 and a'ratch't wheel |06 is keyed to the flange |04. An arm |08 is secured to the shaft ils-closelyV adjacent the -ratchet wheelf |06'.` An opening llll'isprovided'in the plate24 for the'accommodation of the shaft 98,- and the shaft is shouldered at ||2V to engage the plate and restrain theshaft from withdrawal from vthe shaft |42. 1 n

" InFigs. 1 and 3, a pawl ||4 is mounted on -50 v I6 anchored in an opening in the partinon 'le and yieldingly held in pressure engage- -ment the' ratchet wheel |06 by'a spring ||8 Aend connected with the `'pawl and M having one ,so that the tape will end of the spring secured to the arm |08, as

at |30. Spring |24 yieldingly supports the crank 96 in its normal position,A and rotation of the crank in a counter-clockwise direction when viewing Fig. 1 elongates the spring, with a portion thereof bending reversely about the shaft 98. Engagement of the arm |08 with the narrow front wall |32 of the housing 68 determines the other extreme position of the crank. Spring |24 is preferably of such tension as to pull the crank 96 back vto its normal position. when it is re-v leased after a length of tape has been pulled from the roll.

Movement of the crank 96 back -to its normal position brings the movable blade 94 into action be severed only after the tape pulling arms I0 have come to rest. Means for'actua'ting'the' blade 94 comprises a link |34 pivotallyconnected at one end with the blade and having its other vend pivotally connected with an arm |36 secured to a shaft |36by a set screwVv |40. Shaft '|36 is rotatably journaled in the sidewall .I4 and the partition I6. A second ar'in v|42 is v'fixedly secured tothe shaft |38 by a Vset'sc'rew |44, and theV arm h'as'its outer end pivotally connected with a lever |46 through the medium ofa pin |48 ext'en'dingthrough a bore in thelever, the latter' having one end pivotally connected with a Vpin |50 secured to the side wall 2|).Y One yend of a tension'spring |52 is secured to the lever |46 and the other endis secured' to a boltl |54 threaded into th'efwall 20. Upward pivotal movement of the lever |46 is limited through engagement ofthe arm |36 vwith the floor |20, as in Fignli lUpon one side of the arm |06 is positioned a trip |56 andpivotallyconnected to V`the arm, as Aatv |58. Normally the trip' |56'has its lower end positionedbeneath the free end of the lever `|46, and the latter is provided with a lip |60 lying in" the path of the trip'. A tension spring |62 has one en'd anchored to the arm |06 and its other end connected with the trip |56 to hold the trip in its normal position of Fig. 1, at which 4time the upper end of the trip rests on' the npin |30 to which one end of .the spring |24 is connected. Y

f Counter-clockwise rotation of the arm |08 brings thetrip |56 into engagement with the lip |60, but'the trip is pivoted so as to swing andpermi-t continued movement of the arm and the trip. As the crank 96 returns to its normal it'sfother end anchored to the floor |20 0fA the 55 housing |8. "Pawl ||4 permits rotation of the ratchet wheel |06 in a counter-,clockwise direction when viewing Fig.` 1`but restrains the ratchet'wheel from rotation in Va clockwise direction. ,A

Crank 96 isr'otat'e'd 180 from its full lineposil- "60 tion'offFig 1 for tape pulling purposes, which imparts the same degree of rotation'fto the tape pulling arms I0.

While the shaft Siitowwhich the crank 9 6 is |08 connects the arm with the ratchet wheel to in a A-counter#clockwise direction whenv viewed in l fixedly connected is, loosely related to the shaftl I2, a pawl |22 on the arm Fig. l.` However, thepawl is so angled as to slip p ou the ratchet wheel when the crank ifs turned back Vto its normal position.v A'fOne'endcf v`a tension spring'l24 is attached to'the floor |20, vas bya screw |26, yand the ed forfrotation'bn the shaft mi,` with 'the other position,lth e trip |56 engages the lip |60 and'pivots the arm |46 downwardly for rotating the shaft |313k and actuating the blade 94.

The tape pulling arms I0 are shiftable toward and away from each' other so as to vary the length of the tapevpulled from the roll, which in -turndeteilminesthe length of the tape cut by the blades 92 and`94. Referring to Fig. 3, a knob`|64v is threadedly connected with the shaft l2, as laty |66, and the knob abuts the end of thesleevef40. Sleeve 40 is fixedly secured to the shaft 'l2 through tightening of the knob |64. However, a slight reverse turn of the knob |64 'frees 'the' sleeve '40v so that it may be turned theplate- 28 as being provided with slots |68 which accommodate the flanges 12 of the two tape-*pulling arms whenl the two arms are moved v'to their closest spacing. `In the normal position -of the crank 96 of Fig. 1, the arm |08 restsr on a hub |10 of the grooved whee1"|28" so that the crank is restrained from further rotation after reaching its normal position.

Within the trough 54 is positioned a wall 12 which coacts with the side wall |14 of the trough to balance the tape roll 56 in addition to holding the roll in correct alignment with the tape pulling arms I0. A boss |16 is welded to the plate |12 and is threaded for threaded connection with an adjusting screw |18 extending loosely through the bore |80 in the wall I4 and provided with a knob |82 at its outer end. Knob |82 abuts the wall I4 and a collar |84 is fixed to the screw and abuts the other side so as to restrain the screw from relative longitudinal movement. Thus the plate I 12 may be moved toward 1 and away from the wall I 14 through rotation of the screw so as to provide accommodation for tape of different widths.

One end of a tension spring |86, see Fig. 4, is attached to the partition I6 by a. screw |88 and its other end is secured to a pin I 90 connected with the blade 94 at a point where the tension of the spring pulls the blade into snug face to face engagement with the xed blade 92. Thus theA two blades are maintained in effective cutting relation.

To one of the arms 64 is attached a -pin |92 upon which a latch |94 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends. I'he latch is provided with a hook |96 which hooks underneath a pin |98 attached to the partition I6 to hold the cover in its closed position. A spring 200 is convoluted about the pin |92 and has one end hooked over the adjacent arm 64 and the upper end of the latch |94 to yieldingly urge the latch underneath the pin |98. A cam edge 202 is provided at the lower end of the latch member for engagement with the pin |98 to pivot the latch member as the cover is brought to a closed position. As the cover is closed, the spring 200 pivots the latch member to position the hook |96 under the pin |98. One end of a shaft 204 is -pivotally connected with the upper end of the latch member |94, and the shaft extends slidably through an opening 206 in a flange 208 on the forward end of the cover 68. To the outer end of the shaft is secured a button 2| 0 which facilitates a manual thrust on the shaft for unlatching purposes when it is desired to raise the cover.

Rubber pads 2|2 are secured to the bottom wall |20 by screws 2|4 which affords protection, as when the device is placed on counters, tables or the like.

Having thus described certain embodiments of my invention in detail, it is, of course, understood that I do not desire to limit the scope thereof to the exact details set forth except insofar as those details may be claims.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing rolled adhesive tape comprising a support for the roll of tape, a rotative shaft, a ratchet wheel keyed to said shaft, arms carried by said shaft adapted for pulling the tape from the roll by engaging the adhesive surface thereof, a manually actuated dened in the appended lever loosely mounted on said shaft, pawl means acting 3 on s'aid-` lever and said shaftr v permitting relative vmovement betweenthe lever and the shaft in one direction but latching the two parts 'asv Va unit in the other direction, and severing Ymeans operatively Connected with said lever to 'cu-tiv Vthe tape` after -pllilling-a,V predetermined length 4(from theroll." 1 l 2. A device for dispensing rolled adhesive tape comprising a support for the roll of tape, a rotative shaft, a channel-like member fixed to said shaft, a plate connected with the channel-like member, racks slidably guided between the channel and said plate, said racks having arms adapted for pulling tape from the roll by engaging the adhesive surface thereof, pinion means mounted on said shaft and meshing with said racks for adjusting the latter in opposite directions to vary the spacing between said arms",| a manually actuated lever means operatively connected with said shaft for rotating the latter and said arms, a ratchet wheel keyed to said shaft, said lever being loosely mounted on said shaft, and pawl means acting on said lever and said ratchet wheel to positively rotate said shaft in one direction but yielding when the lever is rotated in the opposite direction.

3. A device for dispensing rolled adhesive tape comprising a support for the roll of tape, a rotative shaft, a ratchet wheel keyed to said shaft, arms carried by said shaft adapted for pulling the tape from the roll by yengaging the adhesive surface thereof, a lever loosely mounted on said shaft, pawl means acting on said lever and said shaft permitting relative movement between the lever and the shaft in one direction but latching the two parts as a unit in the other direction, severing means operatively connected with said shaft to cut the tape after pulling a predetermined length thereof from the roll, said severing means comprising a stationary blade located underneath the tape pulled by said arms, a movable blade, crank and link means operatively connecting the movable blade with said lever, and a manually operated crank connected with said lever for rotating said shaft and said arms.

4. A device for dispensing adhesive tape from a source of supply comprising a support, a shaft rotatably journaled in said support, spaced tape pulling members connected with said shaft for rotation therewith, said members being adapted to pull tape from the supply by engaging the adhesive surface thereof, said members paralleling the axis of said shaft and arranged at right angles to the tape pulled from the supply, manually actuated means operatively connected with said shaft for rotating the latter and said members in a predetermined degree, means -acting on said members for variably spacing and fixedly securing the latter against relative movement, adjustable means for supporting rolled tape of different widths, and a housing including a pivoted cover enclosing the tape.

5. A device for dispensing adhesive tape comprising rotative means for pulling the tape from a source of supply by engaging the adhesive surface thereof, rotative means xedly connected with said first-mentioned means for actuating the latter, means operatively connected with said second-mentioned means for severing the tape for length, and a rack and gear adjusting means for said first-mentioned rotative means, including a screw lock for securing the pinion against rotation.

6. A device for dispensing rolled adhesive tape comprising a support for the roll of tape, a ro- @2r-@9,4% tative shaft amis @arried by Said shaft or pullin said given direction upnmiation of the lever ing the tape from the roll by .engaging the ad ir; the'san'ie direciim from said normal posiijieil .hesive suriaee thereef .when rotated in a given but operatively disconnecting the shaft and the 1 dii'eetqn, a manually actuated oscillatory lever lever Vas the lever returns te said normal plosil- 1 fer rntatiiig saids e given directien, means, cperaiiveircfirlriefsbiilg` `S2i 1-1v iin both directieleh I1; an@ said arms in said tion, and stop means lmtrlgthembverfnent of the lever with said Vshafi'ff'or retailing the ghaft A 

